Fluid cooled,double solenoid pumping mechanism



April 1969 D. H. SANDERS ET AL 3,437,044

FLUID COOLED, DOUBLE SOLENOID PUMPING MECHANISM Original Filed May 27, 1966 DAVID H. SANDERS JAMES M. KENNEDY INVENTORS United States Patent l U.S. Cl. 10353 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A double solenoid pump wherein the fluid being pumped is withdrawn from a container and forced through an axial opening within the pump, so as to maintain the solenoid cool and provide a double acting pump to direct fluid through an outlet under pressure. Provision is made to operate both solenoids with a single timing mechanism through a normally open and normally closed switch. The device is self-contained and has an eduction tube to enable the ready withdrawal of gaseous fluids or liquid from a container, and discharge either into individual conduits or into a common conduit. This pumping arrangement is suitable for a closed refri eration systern.

This invention is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 553,358, Electro-Magnetic, Reciprocating Pumping Mechanism, filed May 27, 1966, now Patent No. 3,394,657, which application was co-pending with application Ser. No. 367,313 for Solenoid Actuated Pressure Pump for Grease Guns and the Like, filed May 14, 1964, now Patent No. 3,253,742, issued May 31, 1966.

This invention relates to improvements in pressure pumps and more particularly to magnetically operated pressure pumps for pumping air, gases, fluids, refrigerants, water, grease, oils, fuels and liquids of high viscosity and of low viscosity.

Various solenoid operated and magnetically operated pumps have been proposed heretofore, but these, for the most part, did not lend themselves to a wide variety of uses, such as transmitting grease at high pressures or transmitting liquids such as diesel oil and the like at low pressures, by the use of substantially the same solenoid actuated mechanism and timing mechanisms, merely by changing the size of the pump and the pressure at which the pump operates.

The present solenoid actuated pump is so designed as to operate over long periods of time with a minimum shut down time for repair and the like, but is so constructed that parts may be readily and quickly installed in a minimum of time.

The present device is so constructed that it has a selfcontained prime mover and pumping unit, which may be readily adapted for use with AC or DC current of standard voltage, such as 110 AC, commercial electricity, or with 6, 12 or 24 volt storage batteries, thereby making possible a wide versatility in the use of the present device in practically all fields of endeavor where a pumping unit for handling fluids is used. Furthermore, in the field of lubrication, it may be readily carried to remote areas for servicing equipment which is not readily accessible to air actuated equipment which requires large air tanks, motors, and the like.

The present device is so constructed that, when used for lubrication equipment, a standard hose may be attached thereto which will readily enable the unit to operate instantly without Waiting for air pressure to build up to an operating pressure level.

3,437,044 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 An object of this invention is to provide a pumping unit which may be readily adapted for use with fluids of different viscosities so as to pump gases, air, fuel, such as kerosene, gasoline, diesel oil, and lubricating oil.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrically energized, solenoid actuated pumping unit which is light in weight and which will dispense fluids under pressure to a point of use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical timing system therefor which may be pulse either by reciprocation of the pump or by a solid state timer unit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a double solenoid field with a single reciprocating solenoid plunger therein which is adapted to pass fluid therethrough and discharge fluid axially therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double solenoid field with a single reciprocating plunger therein, which plunger forms a valved pump plunger for discharg ing fluid axially therefrom that is being introduced radially thereinto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained solenoid and pumping unit that is so constructed as to pass the minimum residual magnetism from one solenoid field to another during the operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dual field solenoid, which fields are separate and spaced apart axially by copper barrier elements and which has a copper pipe therethrough so as to enable fluid to be passed axially therefrom.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a solenoid actuated pumping unit for pumping refrigerant fluids wherein the unitary armature and pump plunger are in a completely sealed pressurized conduit circuit.

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view through a third form of the invention showing a double solenoid field with a single reciprocating solenoid armaturev which forms a valved plunger within a pump for operation within the solenoid fields, showing the unit installed on a supply tank, and showing discharge pipes leading from the self-contained pumping unit; the timing mechanism being shown diagrammatically; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a valve assembly of the third form of the invention.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the invention, as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, shows a double solenoid reciprocating pump where the fluid being pumped flows transversely into the solenoid and longitudinally therethrough, which maintains the solenoid at proper operating temperature.

This invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, utilizes a reciprocating solenoid motor 201 which has solenoid coils 202 and 204 thereon, which coils are spaced apart by a non-magnetic ring 206, which ring may be made of copper, aluminum, plastic or the like. Adjacent ends of the solenoid coils 202 and 204 each has an annular groove formed therein, designated at 208 and 210 respectively, which grooves are axially aligned to receive complementary annular, axially aligned bosses 212 and 214 on non-magnetic ring 206.

The solenoid coils 202 and 204 have a non-magnetic, cylindrical sleeve 216 passing therethrough and through non-magnetic ring 206, which sleeve 216 enables a reciprocating armature which forms a valved plunger, designated generally at 218, to reciprocate to create. a suction within chamber 220 of sleeve 216. The armature which forms a valved plunger 218 has O-rings 222 and 224 associated therewith and with the sleeve 216 to form a seal between the armature which forms the valved plunger and sleeve 216, to form a self-contained piston pump, with the solenoid coil 202 moving armature 218 in one direction, upon energization of solenoid coil 202 and moving the armature 218 in the opposite direction upon energization of solenoid coil 204.

The armature which forms the valved plunger 218 has an annular groove 226 formed therein, intermediate the length thereof, which groove, when considered with the wall of cylindrical sleeve 216, forms a chamber into which fluid is drawn from reservoir 228 through pipe 230 and pipe 232. The sleeve 216 has an opening 234 formed therein for passage of fluid from pipe 232 into chamber 220. The chamber 220 is maintained in fluid tight, sealed relation by O-rings 236 and 238 on each side of opening 234 formed intermediate the length of the outer diameter of sleeve 216 and the inner diameter of non-magnetic ring 206. The non-magnetic ring 206 has a screwthreaded opening 240 formed therein to register with opening 234 in sleeve 216.

The solenoid armature which forms a valved plunger 218 has an axial opening 242 formed therethrough, with valve seats 244 and 246, respectively, formed at the op posite ends thereof, with valves 250 and 252 seating on the respective valve seats 244 and 246, which valves are held in seated relation by a tension spring 254 connected therebetween.

The solenoid armature which forms a valved pump plunger 218 has transverse holes 256 formed therein, which holes interconnect chamber 220 in sleeve 216 with the axial opening 242 within solenoid armature which forms a valved pump plunger 218. When the solenoid armature-pump plunger 218 is in the position as indicated in FIG 1. a chamber 258 is formed at the left end of sleeve 216, however, when in the opposite position, a chamber 260 is formed at the opposite end of sleeve 216. However, the annular groove 226 in solenoid armaturepump plunger 218 is of such length that it is always in communication with opening 234 in sleeve 216, which permits suction of fluid from reservoir 228 through pipe 230 into pipe 232 and through opening 234, transverse openings 256 in the grooved portion 226 of solenoid armaturepump plunger 218 which admits fluid into axial opening 242 in plunger 218, and, upon movement of solenoid armature-pump plunger 218 from left to right, and with valve 252 closed by valve spring 264, fluid will be drawn into chamber 258 from axial opening 242 in solenoid armature-pump plunger 218. The opposite movement of solenoid armature-pump plunger 218, valve 250 will be closed, which will force fluid outward through holes 266 in valve seat 268 to cause spring 264 to yield to discharge fluid outward into pipe 270. During this cycle of motion, with valve 250 being closed, fluid is drawn into chamber 260 by valve 252, as valve 272 is closed. At the extreme end of the stroke of solenoid armature-pump plunger 218 to the left end of cylindrical sleeve 216, the valve 262 will close, as will valve 252, whereupon, the movement of solenoid armature-pump plunger 218 to the right will expel fluid being pumped from chamber 260 by valve 272 into pipe 274, which pipe preferably connects with a common discharge pipe 276.

The valves 262 and 272 each preferably has a ground surface or a soft seat, such as an elastomer, plastic, or the like, as indicated at 263, FIG 2, which seats onto removable valve seat 268, which may be pressed into place in a removable piston head 278. A piston hcad 280 is provided in the outer end of sleeve 216, within solenoid coil 204. It is preferable to have O-rings 282 and 284 intermediate the piston heads 278 and 280. A pin 286 passes through the stem of valve 262 and a like pin passes through the stem of valve 272 to hold valves in seated relation, as will best be seen in FIG. 1.

The solenoid coils 202 and 2.04 are held in binding engagement with non-magnetic sleeve 216 by bolts 288, which bolts are circumferentially spaced around coils 202 and 204 and are parallel to the axis thereof. The bolts pass through apertured rings 290 and 292 which press on the respective piston heads 278 and 280 to bindingly engage the solenoid coils 202 and 204 and the non-magnetic ring 206 to form a composite, unitary pumping assembly.

The device as disclosed in this invention is operated by a constant speed timing motor 294, which is preferably of the gear reduction type, and which has a multilobe cam 296 on the shaft thereof. The lobes of the cam 296 are adapted to engage an arm 298 of a switch 300, which switch has a set of normally closed contacts therein and a set of normally open contacts therein. The arm 298 may be actuated to open the normally closed contacts, when in one position, and to simutaneously close the normally open contacts.

The source of electricity may be either AC or DC current, however, for simplicity of operation, a battery 302 is shown, which battery has one lead wire leading to terminal 306 of a thermal breaker or fuse 308. A second terminal 310 has a conductor wire 312 leading therefrom to form one side of a circuit to solenoid coil 202, and a wire 314 leads to one side of the circuit to solenoid coil 204, however, a third wire 316 from terminal 310 leads to an off and on switch 318, which in turn has a wire 320 leading therefrom to a terminal 322 on switch 300. A conductor wire 324 leads from terminal 322 to terminal 326 on motor 294. A conductor wire 328 leads from terminal 330 on motor 294 to the respective terminals 332 and 334 on rela y 33 6 and to terminals 338 and 340 on relay 342. With a control circuit in relay 336 feeding through terminal 344 into conductor Wire 34 6 to terminal 348 on switch 300, which, for purposes of illustration, may be designated the terminal of normally closed switch points in switch 300, and the control circuit in relay 342 leads from terminal 338 through relay 342 to terminal 350 and to conductor wire 352 to terminal 354, which terminal connects with normally open contact points in switch 300.

It is to be pointed out that with the common wire 320 being connected to switch 300, so as to alternately switch the control circuits from Wire 346 to wire 352, the control circuits will actuate the heavy current carrying circuits to complete a circuit from battery 302 through conductor wire 304, thermal breaker or fuse 308 into wire 312 and through solenoid wire 358 and through the heavy current carrying points (not shown) in solenoid 336 to wire 362 leading to the opposite terminal of battery 302.

Upon control circuits 346 and 320 being opened and control circuits 320 and 352 being closed, the relay 336 will be deenergized and relay 342 will be energized, which, in turn, will direct current from terminal of battery 302 through conductor wire 304, thermal breaker or fuse 308 and through conductor wire 314, solenoid coil 204, thence through conductor wire 364 through a heavy current carrying relay points (not shown) in relay 342, thence through conductor wire 362 to the opposite terminal of battery 302.

The energization of solenoid coils 202 and 204 will be brought about by the opening and closing of points within switch 300, as the lobes of cam 296 actuate arm 298 of switch 300.

The rapidity with which solenoid armature-pump plunger 218 is actuated is directly proportional to the opening and closing of the points within switch 300 by rotation of cam 296, and, if desired, the motor 294 may be of the variable speed type, so as to vary the pump speed and the capacity of the pumping unit.

While the operation of the solenoids and armature have been described in some detail with respect to a mechanically operated switch actuated by a motor driven cam 296, the sequential energization and de-energization of solenoid coils 202 and 204 may be accomplished by a solid state timer which is pulsed to energize and de-energize the respective solenoid coils 202 and 204 in accordance with the predetermined firing of the solid state timer. However, the pumping action will be performed in the same manner, regardless of the system of timing.

The present device is particularly desirable for use with a closed conduit system for handling fluids, such as refrigerants, as the inlet pipe 230 from reservoir 228 is in fluid communication with the axial opening 242 in reciprocating solenoid armature forming a valved pump plunger 218 in such manner that little or no pressure head is had at the starting of the pumping operation.

Furthermore, it is to be pointed out that the pump runs at a minimum temperature, which also keeps the solenoid coils 202 and 204 cooled, due to the fluid flowing axially therethrough to dissipate the heat generated by the change of energy from electrical power to mechanical power.

The present solenoid actuated pumping system, which utilizes a magnetically attractable armature as a valved pump plunger, which is of such construction that the magnetically attractable armature which forms the pump plunger may be within a completely sealed fluid system which does not use shafts, packing glands or a piston of which pressure is on one side thereof and which piston is open to atmospheric or crankcase pressure on the other side. Therefore, the present pump unit may be installed in inaccessible places that are not readily maintained as it is free of operational difliculties caused by oil seals, packing glands and the like as the present system utilizes a magnetic field of the respective solenoid coils to induce magnetic fields to reciprocate the armature from outside a closed, sealed conduit circuit such as may be used in refrigerating circuits and the like. Since pressures may be obtained in accordance with the power impressed on the armature by the solenoid field, the present pump has a wide variety of uses and various powers.

In a fluid circuit such as a refrigerating circuit, that is closed and is subject to equalization of pressure after a period of time, the magnetically attractable armature forming a valved plunger is solely within the closed conduit circuit, and when the pressure is equalized on the inlet side of the plunger and the outlet side, the pump will not be operating to start against a head pressure as is common in some systems.

The pumping unit is easily assembled and disassembled and has comparatively few working parts for the operation performed, and is sufliciently light in weight that it may be readily adapted to a variety of pumping operations, such as pumping water, volatile fluids, refrigerants, and for use in refrigerating systems.

While the use has not been illustrated to show the closed piping circuitry of a refrigerating system, it is to be understood that the present pumping unit is applicable to any use to which it may be adapted.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An electro-magnetically actuated mechanism for pumping fluids, which mechanism comprises:

(a) an elongated sleeve,

(b) a pair of electrical coils,

(1) one of said coils surrounding said sleeve near each end thereof,

(c) a spacer element intermediate said electrical coils,

(1) said spacer element having an opening formed therein intermediate said electrical coils,

(2) said sleeve having an opening formed therein which opening is in register with the opening in said spacer element,

((1) a cylinder head in each end of said sleeve,

(1) a valved outlet formed in each cylinder head,

(e) a magnetically excitable armature within said sleeve which armature is of less length than the length of said sleeve when said cylinder heads are fitted into position,

(1) said magnetically excitable armature having the end portions thereof lying within said electrical coils so said magnetically excitable armature is affected by the magnetic fields created by said respective electrical coils,

(2) said magnetically excitable armature forming a substantially fluid tight pump plunger within said sleeve,

(3) said magnetically excitable armature which forms said pump plunger having a longitudinal opening formed therethrough,

(4) the longitudinal opening in said magnetically excitable armature having a valve seat formed therein near each end thereof,

(f) a spring pressed valve seated on each said valve seat,

(g) said magnetically excitable armature having a lateral passage formed therein which connects said longitudinal passage therein with said opening formed in said sleeve,

(h) an electrical circuit associated with said electrical coils, and

(i) a timing device within said electrical circuit to alternately energize said electrical coils sequentially, to reciprocate said magnetically excitable armature forming a pump plunger, alternately to pump fluid therethrough.

2. A solenoid actuated mechanism for pumping fluids,

as defined in claim 1; wherein (a) each electrical coil has stop means formed on adjacent ends thereof,

(b) said spacer element has complementary stop means formed on each end thereof, each which stop means complementally engages the stop means on the adjacent ends of the respective coils to maintain the coils in axial alignment, and

(c) fastening means interconnecting the electrical coils to maintain said electrical coils in secure axial alignment with said spacer element.

3. A solenoid actuated mechanism for pumping fluids,

as defined in claim 2; wherein (a) said spacer element is a cylindrical sleeve having a cylindrical stop means formed thereon,

(b) each said electrical coil has a base thereon, and

(c) each said base has an annular recess formed therein to form stop means to complementally receive said cylindrical stop means therein.

4. A solenoid actuated mechanism for pumping fluids,

as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) a fluid sealing element is positioned exterior of said sleeve intermediate the length thereof, and

(b) said armature, forming said pump plunger, has

a fluid seal therearound, within said sleeve and exterior of said plunger, intermediate the inlet opening and the end of said plunger.

5. A solenoid actuated mechanism for pumping fluids, as defined in claim 4; wherein (a) each said head, within said sleeve, has fluid seal means positioned intermediate the bore of said sleeve and the outer diameter of each said head to form a seal therebetween. 6. A solenoid actuated mechanism for pumping fluids, as defined in claim 5; wherein (a) said electrical coils and said spacer element are removably fitted on said sleeve, and (b) longitudinal bolts being associated with said heads and extending between said heads to bindingly engage said heads in secure relation with said electrical coils and with said spacer element. 7. A solenoid actuated mechanism for pumping fluids, which mechanism comprises;

(a) an elongated sleeve,

(1) a head associated with each end of said sleeve,

(2) said sleeve having a fluid inlet formed therein,

intermediate the length thereof,

(b) at least one electrical coil surrounding said sleeve,

near one end thereof,

(c) a magnetically excitable armature within said sleeve, which armature is of less length than said sleeve, when in assembled relation,

(1) said magnetically excitable armature having an end portion thereof lying within said electrical coil, so said magnetically excitable armature is affected by the magnetic field created by said electrical coil to move said armature in one direction, when said coil is energized,

(2) said magnetically excitable armature forming a substantially fluid tight pump plunger within said sleeve,

(3) said magnetically excitable armature, which forms said plunger, having a longitudinal opening formed therethrough,

(4) said magnetically excitable armature, having the longitudinal opening formed therethrough, has a valve seat formed on each end thereof and surrounding said opening therein,

as defined in claim 7; therein (a) said timing device is a motor driven cam. 9. A solenoid actuated mechanism for pumping fluids,

as defined in claim 7; wherein (i) a valve adapted to seat on each said valve seat, with one said valve adapted to pass fluid therethrough in one direction and the other of said valves adapted to pass fluid therethrough in the opposite direction, (d) a valve seat formed in each said head in said sleeve,

(a) said valves in said heads discharge fluid into a common conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1948 lEkleberry 230- FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1942 Germany.

ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

